Vehicle lamp display device



March 31, 1942. ,w, HQRTQN VEHICLE LAMP DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Jan. 28, 1941 Patented Mar. 31, 1942 UNITED STATES ATENT ostrea- VEHICLE LAMB DISPLAY DEVICE William M. Horton, ChioagoJll. Application January 2s, 194.1, serial No. 376,367 6 Claims. I (o1. 4c`131 l This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in vehicle lamp display devices and has particular reference to Amotor vehicle and watercraft lamp-supported display def vices such as, for example, eXible banners, flags,; 5 pennants, or rigid display devices which are adapted to be illuminated by the light of the ve hicle lamp.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a novel display device which can befglfO readily attached to a vehicle lamp and displayed within the path of light rays emanating therefrom for illumination thereby and which device shall be simple in construction and comparatively low incost of manufacture. 2315 Still another object of my invention'resides in the provision of a flag, banner, or displayfsupport which can be detachably aixed to the lamp, or to the cover glass of a vehicle lamp, whereby such flag, banner or display shall be disposedtzZO for illumination by light rays emanating from the lamp Without undue interference with `the light function of the lamp, and, if eXible, such as a cloth iiag, banner or pennant, without interference or contact with the lamp as it is, 2 5 waved by the air during motion of the vehicle.

Another object of my invention is found infthe provision of a display-device comprising aag support or the like adapted to support a ag above the lamp, or at one side of the lamp, andfzo including light-reflecting means associated with the support for illuminating the flag.

The attaching means for the display support shown in Fig. 7 may obviously be readily substituted for the attaching means which are il-ggl lustrated in Figs. l and 6.

Other features or objects of my invention are found in the novel constructions of the support for the display article and in the novel attachments for securing the support to the lamp with- E4:0 out structurally modifying or disfiguring the lamp or its parts.

With the above and other objects' in View, my invention consists in the novel combination, construction and arrangement of `the partsy and g5 members shown in preferred embodiments in the attached drawing, described in the yfollowing specification, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing in which like reference nu- Q0 merals indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. l isa view, in perspective, of a vehicle lamp having attached thereto a display device such as a pennant or flag support embodying my invention; '55

l to reect light rays emanating from Fig. 2 is anenlarged broken longitudinal section of a portion of the pennant support shown in Fig. 1 showing a connection `elbow for the relatively angularlyr disposed support members and a suction cup whereby the ag support is attached to the vehicle lamp;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a modified connection elbow;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the connection elbow shown in Fig. 3; Y

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of my improved flag holder or support constructed in one piece and having an attachment membery of glassy or any suitable hardened plastic material cemented to the face of the cover glass of the vehicle lamp;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the attachment member shown in Fig. 5; n

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through a modified form of attachment for the flag support whereby same is secured to the lamp cover glass by a threaded end extended through an opening in the cover glass;

Fig. 8 is aside elevation of a modified ag support adapted to support a flag, or the like, above thevehicle lamp and having a reflector adapted the lamp onto the elevated iiag; 1

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the reflector shown in the modification in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a rigid display ag, or the like, supported onfa two-piece holder provided with a stamped metal connection elbow;

' Fig. ll is a perspective view ofA the metallic connection elbow'shown in Fig. 10, and

; Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section on line I2-I2 0f Fig. 10.

In the accompanying drawing, the display device, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consists of any suitable or desirable display article, such as for example, a pennant, banner, or flag, generally indicated by numeral I5 secured in any suitable manner to a; cantilevered staff, support, arm or bracket generally indicated by numeral I6, and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consisting of a pair of relatively angularly disposed members I'I and I8 ASII.

cover glass 22. y

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the staff or support IS is adapted to be secured to the lamp 2|, or more specifically to the cover glass 22 of the lamp 2|, by means of a suction cup 2|! of rubber, or the like. The suction cup 29 is provided with an integral channeled extension 23 adapted to frictionally retain therein the supported end of the horizontal member IB of the staff or support IS.

As shown in Fig. 1, the staff or support I6 is cantilevered from its attachment or connection means such as the suction cup 28, and the relatively angularly disposed members I1 and I8 of the staff or support IB are preferably disposed right-angularly one to the other, and are also disposed in a common vertical plane preferably coincident with the longitudinal center-line of the lamp 2|, and the distance from the face of the cover glass 22 to the vertical or upright portion or member I'I is preferably slightly greater than the longitudinal length of the pennant, banner or flag I so that such display device I5 is free to wave in the rays of light emanating from the lamp 2| without contact with the lamp and Without objectionable interference with the light.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a modified form of connection elbow 24 consisting of a split tubular member bent right-angularly and made from a single piece of fabricated plate having a notchedout portion 25 to permit same to be easily bent into right-angular shape. This type of elbow may be readily substituted for the cast pipe elbow I9 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the modified form of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pennant I5 is shown supported on a cantilevered staff, support 0r arm 26 consisting of a single or one-piece member of wood v or metal bent to form the relatively right-anguforation 32 therein. The supported end of thev horizontal member |8, or portion 28, is frictionally secured within the channeled end of the cylindrical connection 33. The connection is shouldered, as at 34, and provided with a screwthreaded extension 35 which extends through the hole 32. Washers 36 and 31 of rubber or ber are provided on opposite faces of the cover glass 22 whereby the connection 33 is adapted to be clampingly secured to the cover glass 22 upon tightening of the nut 38.

The modification shown in Fig. 8 is directed to a display support which is adapted to support a flag 44, or the like, which is disposed abovethe lamp, and which support consists of a single straight sta 39 supported at its lower end in any suitable attachment such as the suction cup 40. As shown, the suction cup 40 is formed with an integral vertically channeled extension 4I for support therein of the staff 39.

The display device shown in Fig. 8 is provided with a suitable reflector 42 having a split integral sleeve portion 43 adapted to be frictionally supported on and near the lower end of the staff The reflector 42 is preferably made of any automobile head-light, which is provided with a suitable metal and provided with a chromium plated reflecting surface which is disposed at an langle to the vertical axis of the staff 39 to thus reflect the rays of light emanating from the lamp 2| onto the iiag 44 disposed above the lamp.

The modiiication shown in Figs. l0, 11 and 12 is directed to a display device embodying a rigid display article or element, as for example, a flag-like metallic element 45 aixed to the cantilevered bracket 4'| consisting of the vertical support member I'I which is supported at its lower end in the metallic plate connector 48 carried at the outer end of the horizontal support member I8.

Any of the suitable attachments shown in Figs. 2, 6 or 7 may be employed for attachment of display devices illustrated in the attached drawing.

The device illustrated in Fig. 10 is shown secured to the lamp cover glass 22 as by the suction cup 20. The display element 45 may be of any character or type to secure the desired effect, however, it is shown in` Fig. l0 as consisting of aflag-like metallic form with vertical corrugations 48 progressively decreasing in depth outwardly from the support I'I or toward the lamp y2| whereby the light-illumination of the corrugated surface of the display element may be more effectively attained.

The metallic plate connector 46 which connects the members I'| and I8 is formed, as by stamping operation, from a single metallic plate.

The Vplate 46 is formed with a pair ofA relativelyangularly disposed channels 49 adapted to receive, for frictional retainment therein, the adjacent ends of the members I'I and I8.

The channels 49 each consist of a pressed-out elongated groove 59 of substantially semi-circular cross-section with spaced oppositely pressedout strap-like formations 5I of arcuate crosssecton cooperating with the groove 59 for frictionally retaining therebetween the end of one of the supporting members.

It will be readily understood that while I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, various changes in the combinations, constructions and arrangements disclosed herein may be readily made by those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains without departing from the spirit of my invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a vehicle lamp having a cover glass, of a device comprising a flexible display article, a support for said ilexible display article disposed in a single plane which is normal to said cover glass, said support having a vertical part spaced from said cover glass to which vertical part said flexible display article is secured, and means for attaching said support to the vehicle lamp cover glass whereby light rays emanating from the vehicle lamp and passing through said cover glass may impinge upon said flexible display article to illuminate opposite sides of said flexible display article during wavy motion thereof when the vehicle is moving forward.

2. A ag or the like display device as embodied in claim 1 and including said attaching means comprising a suction cup.

3. A flag or the like display device adapted to be attached to a vehicle lamp cover glass including a flag, a support for said flag comprising a pair of relatively angularly positioned members disposed in a vertical plane which is normal to said cover glass, a connection between said members comprising a formed part having formed channels for the reception of adjacent ends of said members, one of said members being vertically disposed and said ag being secured thereto, and means for attaching said support to the cover glass of the vehicle lamp.

4. A ag display device adapted to be attached to the cover glass of a vehicle lamp comprising a flexible flag, an L-shaped cantlevered support for said ag consisting of an upright portion on which said ag is supported and a lateral portion disposed below said upright portion extending toward the cover glass of the vehicle lamp, and means at the rear end of said lateral portion for attaching said support directly to said cover glass whereby light rays emanating from the vehicle lamp through said cover glass impinge upon the flag, said upright flag-supporting portion being disposed a spaced distance from the face of said cover glass which distance is greater 20 than the horizontal length of the flag to permit the ag to wave during the forward movement of the vehicle.

5. A flag display device adapted to be attached to the cover glass of a vehicle lamp comprising a flexible flag, an L-shaped cantilevered support for said flag consisting of an upright portion on which said flag is supported and a lateral portion disposed below said upright portion extending toward the cover glass of the vehicle lamp, a connection member connecting the adjacent ends of said support portions, and a single suction cup at the rear end of said lateral portion for attaching said support directly to said cover glass whereby light rays emanating from the vehicle lamp through said cover glass impinge upon the iiag, said upright flag-supporting portion being disposed a spaced distance from the face of said cover glass which distance is greater than the horizontal length of the flag to permit the iiag to wave during the forward movement of the vehicle.

6. A ag display device as embodied in claim 5 and including said connection member comprising a formedl member having relatively right angularly disposed formations adapted to frictionally retain therein the adjacent ends of said support portions.

WILLIAM M. HORTON. 

